Card profile compensation for removable card-handling cartridge

ABSTRACT

A removable card-handling cartridge for retaining a plurality of cards in a side-by-side relationship for use by a card-handling apparatus is described. Included in the removable cartridge, are a plurality of end-coded cards retained by a plurality of selectively actuatable card-retaining pins, the pins being coded and selectively actuatable for permitting the selection of individual ones of the end-coded retained cards for access to the card-retained cards for access to the card-handling apparatus. High-resistance fluid nozzles are utilized for keeping the cards separated while in the retained position. An end wall fluid system is also shown for providing card profile compensation for ensuring card separation. Additionally, a fluid system is illustrated for assisting in returning cards to the cartridge.

United States Patent LeRoy E. Gerlach Minneapolis, Minn. 828,860

May 29, 1969 June 15, 1971 Sperry Rand Corporation New York, NY.

[72} Inventor [21 1 Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee[54] CARD PROFILE COMPENSATION FOR REMOVABLE CARD-HANDLING CARTRIDGE3,390,683 7/1968 l-lofmann 3,465,879 9/1969 Jonas ABSTRACT: A removablecard-handling cartridge for retaining a plurality of cards in aside-by-side relationship for use by a card-handling apparatus isdescribed. Included in the removable cartridge, are a plurality ofend-coded cards retained by a plurality of selectively actu'atablecard-retaining pins, the pins being coded and selectively actuatable forpermitting the selection of individual ones of the end-coded retainedcards for access to the card-retained cards for access to thecard-handling apparatus. High-resistance fluid nozzles are utilized forkeeping the cards separated while in the retained position. An end wallfluid system is also shown for providing card profile compensation fbrensuring card separation. Additionally, a fluid system is illustratedfor assisting in returning cards to the cartridge.

PATENTEI] JUN] 5 1971 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR LEROY E. GERLACH ATTORNEYCARI) PROFILE COMPENSATION FOR REMOVABLE CARD-HANDLWG CARTRIDGEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionpertains generally to the field of card-handling apparatus. Morespecifically, it relates to the field of card-handling apparatus. Morespecifically, it relates to the field of card-handling apparatus whereina plurality of cards are retained in a removable cartridge forindividual selection and use by the card-handling apparatus, with theindividual card subsequently being returned to the cartridge. Still morespecifically, this'invention relates to the field of removablecard-handling cartridges having improved means for keeping the retainedcards separated, and for providing card profile compensation for aidingin the separation and return of the cards.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are lrnown in the prior art,random access information storage systems which are adapted to handleinformation, or data, recorded by magnetic techniques on strips offlexible material, referred to as cards. The cards are each providedwith various forms of suspension (card-retaining) end-coded arrangementsfor suspending the cards in a container, or cartridge, where they arecapable of being selectively released one at a time into thecard-handling apparatus. Characteristically, the various types ofcard-handling apparatus have various devices for transporting the cardsthrough a transducing regions for cooperation with reading and recordingtransdu cers. Various devices and arrangements are known for returningthe cards to the retained position.

Many prior art devices have also recognized the desirability ofmaintaining the cards out of contact with one another to minimize thewear on the recording surface of the cards due to abrasion that might beencountered when a selected card is caused to slide past the adjacentcard during the selection process. Problems encountered in prior devicesreside in the inability of prior art separation systems to ensure thatall the cards will be separated. Problems in individual cards failing toseparate, result from frictional contact between cards andcard-retaining pins, and frictional contact between individual cardsthat are located at the ends of the stack and the end walls of thecontainer.

Having recognized the desirability of maintaining the cards in aseparated condition, an early from of separation apparatus utilized theinjection of a stream of air downwardly against the tops of the retainedcards. The air forced on to the tops of the cards tended to increase theproblem of the frictional engagement of the supporting notches of thecards with the card-retaining pins, thereby tending to enhance theproblem of separation of the cards rather than completely solve theproblem. Further, due to the nature of the devices for injecting theairflow, problems of fluid pressure balance exists in the prior art, andflutter is induced in the cards due to such unbalanced fluid flow. Animprovement over the prior art device just described, was therecognition that high resistance fluid nozzles placed at the sides ofthe suspended cards would tend to separate the cards without impartingflutter thereto. Nozzles of this type are disclosed in the copendingU.S. Pat. application of LeRoy E. Gerlach, et al. entitled REMOVABLECARD-l-lANDLlNG CARTRIDGE, Filed May 29, 1969, Ser. No. 828,858otherwise identified as ERA-1824, and assigned to the Assignee of theinstant invention. The nozzle arrangement disclosed therein solves theproblem of card separation for a major portion of the stack of cards,but in some instances, fails to provide the appropriate card separationfor a major portion of the stack of cards, but in some instances, failsto provide the appropriate card separation at the end walls of thecard-handling cartridge. Failure of the nozzles to separate in thisarea, is attributed to the fact that the cards are not strictly flat,but may have a curved profile tending to cause the cards to bunch at theends of the stack.

Other nozzle arrangements are shown in the copending U.S. Pat.application of LeRoy A. Vos, entitled HlGl'l RE- SISTANCE NOZZLE ANDDOCUMENTS SEPARATOR, filed Jan. 15, 1969, Ser. No. 791,263, and theinvention of Gordon P. Johnson, et al., entitled NOZZLE AND CON- TROLAPPARATUS, filed .lan. l5, 1969, Ser. No. 791,239, both of theseapplications being assigned to the assignee of the instant invention.

Closely associated with the card separation problem referred to in theabove identified application of LeRoy E. Gerlach, et al., is the problemof returning cards at a predeter mined card-return end of thecard-handling cartridge. It has been noted that in those situation swherein cards having a curved profile are utilized, with the attendanttendency to bunch at the end walls, that returning cards have a tendancyto impinge on these bunched cards with the result that intermittently,cards failed to return to the cartridge properly. It is to the foregoingproblems and disadvantages in the prior art that the subject inventionis directed.

SUMMARY In summary, then, this invention comprises an improved removablecard-handling cartridge having a plurality of cardretaining pins forcooperating with a plurality of end-coded cards arranged in aside-by-side relationship in the cartridge, and having high resistancefluid nozzle means arranged at the sides of the cartridge for directingfluid. flow at the edges of the supported cards for maintaining thecards in a separated condition without imparting flutter thereto,together with fluidic card profile compensation means for assisting inthe separation of the cards in the vicinity of the end walls and forfurther assisting in the return of cards to the cartridge.

A primary object of this invention, then, is to provide an improvedremovable cardhandling cartridge for use with a cardhandling apparatuswherein improved card profile compensation is achieved. Another objectof this invention is to provide an improved removable cartridge having aplurality of endcoded cards arranged in a side-by-side relation onselectively actuatable card-retaining and selection pins, having cardprofile compensation apparatus for ensuring separation of cards at theends of the stack. A further object of this invention is to provide animproved cartridge having a fluidic card profile compensation system forensuring separation of cards at the ends of the stack. Still a furtherobject of this invention is to provide an improved cartridge havingmeans for assisting in the positioning of supported cards for aiding thereturn of cards at the ends of the stack. Yet a further object of thisinvention is to provide an improved removable cartridge having fluidiccard profile correction apparatus for aiding 'in return of cards to thecard-return end of the stack, the improved cartridge having a minimum ofconnections to the card-handling apparatus. These and other moredetailed and specific objec. tive will become apparent to those skilledin the art from a consideration of the accompanying drawings when viewedin light of the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a perspective view of animproved removable cartridge partially inserted in a card-handlingapparatus, with portions to the cartridge and card-handling apparatusbroken away for ease of illustrating the invention; HO. 2 is aperspective view of an end-coded card capable of being utilized in theimproved removable cartridge, and illustrates the curved profile of thecard; HO. 3 is a bottom view of a removable cartridge, illustrating thelocation of the supported cards within the cartridge, and furtherillustrating the bunching of the cards due to the profile variations atthe ends. of the cartridge; FIG. 4i is a partial sectional view of theimproved removable cartridge of this invention, and illustrates thefluidic card profile compensation apparatus as it acts on the fluidiccard profile cornpensation apparatus as it acts on the retained cardsfor forcing them away from the card-return end wall, and as it providesa fluid bearing for assisting in the return of the cards to the stack;FIG. 5 is a side view of the end wall that incorporates the card profilecompensation apparatus; and FIG. 6 is a crosssectional view taken alonglines 6-6 in FIG. 5 and illustrates the fluidic passageway and aperturesystem arrangement for the card profile compensation apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. I there isshown a perspective view of a card-handling apparatus 10 and a partiallyinserted removable cartridge 12, the cartridge having many of theelements of the above identified Gerlach, et al., application. Thecard-handling apparatus 10 includes a supporting member 14 for mountingsupporting walls 16, 18, and 20. Portions of walls 16 and 18 are brokenaway to illustrate the lower portion of cartridge l2, and to illustratethe support housing 22. The inner portion of support housing 22 is anopening indicated by arrow 24, which extends into the card-handlingapparatus 10, for access to transducing apparatus (not shown) forreading and recording on cards, and apparatus (not shown) forpositioning and handling the cards during the time they are removed fromthe card handling cartridge l2. Card-handling apparatus 10 also includesa source of pressurized fluid (not shown) that is coupled to ports 26 inthe sides of housing 22 for directing the pressurized fluid upwardly.Ports 26 are directed upwardly for cooperating with like arranged portsin the cartridge l2. In the embodiment shown, there are six ports 26 ateach side of housing 22. Five of the ports 26 are utilized for supplyingair for separating the cards, as will be described in more detail below,and one port at each side is utilized for supplying fluid to the cardprofile compensation apparatus of this invention. The latter ports arethe endmost ports on each side.

Wall 16 mounts retaining-pin selection apparatus within housing 28.Characteristically, these pin actuators are electrical relays.Alternatively, the retaining-pin actuators 28 could be selected'fromthose systems described in copending U.S. Pat. application of David A.Tandeski, entitled RETAINING PIN AND ACTUATION APPARATUS, Ser. No.828,821, filed May 29, I969, otherwise identified as ERA-1790, andassigned to the Assignee of this invention. When electrical solenoidsare utilized, the card-handling apparatus It) includes electroniccircuitry (not shown) for providing the selection signals through cable30, which in turn is coupled through plug 32, to the retaining-pinselection housing 28, for actuating the selected ones of thecard-retaining and selection pins in the removable cartridge 12. Theinterrelationship between the electrical solenoids, and the ends of thecard-retaining and selection pins within cartridge 12, can be similar tothat described in the above identified application of LeRoy E. Gerlach,et al.

Wall 18 is utilized for mounting the gating-rod actuation mechanisms inhousings 34 and 36. Portions of the gating-rod actuation mechanisms (notshown) cooperate with gating-rod drive elements 38 and 40 mounted in thefront wall 42 of cartridge 12. The card-handling apparatus also includeselectrical circuitry (not shown) for providing activation signals overconductors included in cable 44 to each of the housings 34 and 36. Thegating-rod actuation system is similar to that described in the aboveidentified Gerlach et al. application. In addition to supportinghousings 34 and 36, wall 18 has a pair of slots 46 and 48 for receivingportions of the cartridge 12.

In addition to front wall 42, the cartridge 12 includes sidewalls 50 and52, and end wall 54. A top 56 joins all four walls together. Aprotective housing 58 extends outwardly from the front wall 42 forprotecting the gating-rod actuators 38 and 40. The sidewalls 50 and 52are terminated at the lower ends in supporting surfaces 60 and 62respectively which are arranged for cooperation with the upper surfacesof that portion of the housing 22 where fluid ports 26 are opened. Eachof the sidewalls 50 and 52 have fluid conduits therein for cooperatingwith ports 26. For instance, in sidewall 50 there is shown a broken awayportion with live conduits 26 for carrying pressurized fluid upwardlythrough wall 50 where the fluid is exhausted through openings 26" in thehigh resistance fluid nozzle chamber. The high resistance fluid nozzlechamber opens into the inner part of cartridge 12 through nozzle slot64, and provides the forces utilized for separating the cards 66.

In this invention, an additional port 26-1 is arranged for cooperatingwith fluid conduit 70 for carrying fluid from the sidewall to the endwall 54, as will be described in more detail below. It is this conduit70 that provides the pressurized fluid flow upwardly in the backwall 54for providing the cardprofile compensation. A fluid conduit similar toconduits 70 is arranged for cooperating with the endmost port 26 at side52.

A plurality of openings 72 provide access to the actuation ends of theapparatus utilized for actuating the card-retaining and selection pinswithin cartridge 12. These openings 72 are arranged for cooperation withthe actuation devices enclosed within housing 28 when the cartridge 12is fully inserted into the card-handling apparatus 10.

In the foregoing arrangement, card-handling cartridge 12 can be insertedand removed from the card-handling apparatus 10 without having todisconnect any operative portion ofthe system. It can be seen that thecards 66 are spaced apart and arranged in the side-by-side manner withthe edges facing sidewalls 50 and 52. When released by the appropriatecombination of signals in cables 30 and 44, the selected card will passdownwardly for use by the card-handling apparatus 10. The handling ofthe card 66 within the card-handling apparatus does not from a part ofthis invention and will not be described in any further detail, it beingclearly understood that means are provided for taking the card fromcard-handling cartridge 12 at any location selected within the stack andreturning the card at the end wall 54 of cartridge 12.

FIG. 2 illustrates a characteristic end-coded card 66 of the typecontemplated for usage with this invention. Characteristi cally, thecards 66 are comprised of a flexible plasticlike material, such asMylar" a trademarked product of E. l. du- Pont de NeMours and Company,with a magnetic layer deposited thereon. The card 66 has the physicalcharacteristics of a width of 4.5 inches; length of 14.0 inches; andthickness of approximately 0.0054 inch. While the number of cards 66that can be accommodated by cartridge 12 will vary, it is contemplatedthat an advantageous system would include 512 individually addressablecards. To accommodate their addressing, there would be required ninenotches in the endcoded portion. Certain of the notches have straightsides, thereby giving no support to card 66, while others of the notches82 have tab portions for supporting the card 66 on respectivelyassociated card-retaining and selection pins. The various cards 66 inthe stack will have different combinations of notches having supportingtabs, thereby rendering the endcoded portions of the stack of cardsindividually addressable. The tab portions are illustrated at the rightside of the notches for a 2-position selection system but it should beunderstood that tabs can alternatively at the left, or at either sidefor a 3- position selection system. At the edges of cards 66 aregatingrod notches 84 and 86. It will be noted that the card 66 is bowed.This is a physical condition that is generated in the card during amanufacturing process, and the bowing may be in either the rearwarddirection, as shown, or forward directions. Further, different batchesof cards may have different degrees of profile bowing. It is this bowingthat tends to create problems in separation of the cards at the ends ofthe stack, and creates further'problems with regard to retaining cardsat the card-return end wall 54 of the cartridge.

In FIG. 3 there is shown a bottom view of a cartridge with a pluralityof cards 66 therein. There is shown the front wall 42, and thecard-return wall 54, together with the sidewalls 50 and 52. Thefluid-carrying conduits 26' are shown opening at the bottom of walls 50and 52, and the conduits 70 are also shown opening at the bottom ofwalls 50 and 52. Due to the bowing of the cards 66, as described above,it can be seen that the concentration of cards in the proximity ofwall'42 and cardreturn end wall 54 is greater than throughout theremainder of the stack. The bowing of the cards causes frictionalengagement of the walls 42 and 54, as well as frictional engagement withnext adjacent cards. This arrangement cannot adequately be handled bythe fluid nozzle arrangement utilized for separating the cards, due theproximity to the ends of the cartridge. Without profile compensation forthe cards, it can be seen that cards trying to return at the card-retumend wall 54 would impinge on the lower edge of the cards next adjacentto the end wall 54 and would be prevented from sliding upwardly into thecartridge for engaging the card-retaining pins. Further, it can be seenthat this bunching of cards with the frictional contact between adjacentcards materially impedes the selection of cards from the bunchedgroupings.

A consideration of the FIGS. 4!, 5, and 6 will provide an understandingof the structure that is utilized to compensate for the bowed profile ofthe cards. in FIG. 4 there is shown a partial sectional view of theimproved cartridge of this invention, and illustrates a portion of acard retaining and selection pin 90, together with the actuationarrangement, of the type described in the above-identified Tandeskicopending application. There is also shown a portion of one of thegating rods 92 and the fluid nozzle 64, previously mentioned. The cards66 are shown as having a flat profile, it being understood that anactuality they would have the curved profile shown in FIG. 3. A cardbrake 94 is arranged for bringing returning cards 66" to a stop forbeing engaged by the card-retaining pins 90 and gating rods 92. Acharacteristic card brake can be chosen from those in the prior art, butmost advantageously will be the type of momentum-transfer card brakeillustrated and described in another copending US. application of LeRoyE. Gerlach et al., entitled MOMENTUM-TRANSFER CARD BRAKE, filed May 29,1969 Ser. No. 828,861, otherwise identified as ERA-1836, and assigned tothe assignee of the instant invention.

Referring briefly to the FIG. 5, there is shown a side view ofcard-return end wall 54. A plurality of apertures 100 are arranged forexhausting pressurized fluid into the cartridge chamber.

In FIG. 6 there is shown a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG.5, that illustrates the conduit paths 70 in sidewalls 50 and 52, fordirecting the pressurized fluid into the cham bers where there is fluidcommunication with a coordinate array of apertures 100. Fluid flowsupwardly through conduit 70 and flows in the directions of arrows 102upwardly, and 10d downwardly. As the fluid is continually forced upwardthrough conduits 70, there is a pressure buildup throughout the entirechamber area, and fluid is exhausted through apertures 100 into theinner portion of the cartridge. Characteristically, the apertures areapproximately 0.020 inch for this embodiment.

Returning again to a consideration of FIG. 4, the operation of thedevice just described can be clearly seen. The fluid is flowing in thedirection to arrow 106 in the chamber area 70, and at the uppermost fourapertures 100, tends to be directed outwardly and downwardly, asillustrated by arrows 108. In the absence of returning card 66", all ofthe fluid exhausted through apertures 100 would tend to bear on thesurface of the endmost card 66, tending to force it away from endwall54. Once the fluid within the cartridge had reached a predeterminedpressure in the upper portion, the fluid would tend to flow outwardlyand downwardly where it would be exhausted in the card-handlingapparatus 10. it can be seen therefore, that by providing the fluid flowover the entire face of the endmost card 66, that the frictional contactwith the inner portion of end wall 54 is eliminated, and the cards aretended to be forced in the direction of front wall 42. As cards areselected, it is necessary that the stack be adjusted toward wall 42 inorder to provide space at the card-retum end wall 54 for the return ofthe card. As the cards are moved toward wall 42 the full operation ofthe separating fluid nozzle 64 is brought into play and the bunching ofthe cards at the cardretum end wall 54 is eliminated. The pressurizedfluid in chamber 70 also provides a laminar flow of fluid, as indicatedby arrows 110 directed upwardly, wherein the pressurized fluid engagesthe surface of the returning card 66" and holds. it out of contact withthe card-return end wall 5d. Since the returning card does not contactthe wall, and since the endmost cards 66' has been moved away from wall54, there is adequate space for the returning card to return into thecartridge, where it is stopped by card brake 94 and reengaged on theretaining-pins and the gating rods 92.

An arrangement similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 can beutilized in the front wall 42, also for compensating for bunching of thecards. In the event other apparatus, such as a card-retaining apparatus,must be mounted in front wall 42, however, the problem of bunching ofthe cards in the vicinity of that wall can be overcome by the insertionof a predetermined number of dummy cards that will never be selected.Characteristically, the number of dummy cards can be in the order offour to six, with the appropriate separation of addressable cards,proceeding into the stack from the dummy cards, being adequately handledby the separation nozzle 64.

The fluid pressure supplied to conduit 70 can be in the range ofapproximately 4 pounds per square inch, and the pressure exhaustedthrough apertures can characteristically be in the arrange ofapproximately 2 pounds per square inch.

It can be seen from the foregoing detailed description of the preferredembodiment, that the various general and specific objectives of theinvention have been achieved, and are fully illustrated herein. It beingrecognized that various changes in dimensions, arrangements, andconfigurations will become apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, what is intendedto be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. For use in a card cartridge having a plurality of card retaining pinsfor cooperating with a plurality of end-coded cards arranged in aside-by-side relationship in the cartridge, and having fluid nozzlesarranged at the sides of the cartridge for directing fluid flow at theend of the cards for maintaining the cards in a separated condition, andhaving a pair of sidewall members, a front wall member, and an end wallmember, card profile compensation; apparatus comprising: said end wallmember having a plurality of fluid-exhaust apertures in fluidcommunication with the interior of the cartridge, fluid source means forproviding fluid flow through said apertures bearing on the face of theend card next adjacent said end wall member for holding said end cardout of contact with said end wall member at all times and at a distancesufficient to enable another card to be inserted between said end wallmember and said end card, and with a spacing being maintained betweensaid other card and said end wall member and also between said othercard and said end card; and fluid conduit means for coupling to a sourceof pressurized fluid, said fluid conduit means being in fluidcommunication with said plurality of fluid-exhaust apertures.

2. Card profile compensation apparatus as in claim I wherein said fluidconduit means includes fluid input means downwardly extending in saidend wall member and opening at the bottom of said sidewall member forfluid communication with fluid supply ports in the associatedcard-handling apparatus, and a plurality of transverse channelsextending upwardly along said end wall member, respective-ones of saidplurality of exhaust ports located in associated ones of said channels.

3. Card profile compensation apparatus as in claim 2 and furtherincluding a predetermined number of dummy cards retained in side-by-siderelationship adjacent said front wall member, said dummy cards normallybeing unselectable and arranged for spacing selectable ones of saidcards outwardly from said front wall member, thereby rendering theselectable cards readily separatable by the fluid nozzles.

4. Card profile compensation apparatus as in claim 2 wherein saidplurality of fluid-exhaust apertures are arranged in a coordinate arrayextending over substantially all of the surface of said face of said endcard for providing substantially uniform loading on said card.

5. Card profile compensation apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said endwall member is in the card-retum area for returning cards, said fluidexhausted forming a fluid bearing for keeping said returning cards outof contact with end wall member.

6. For use in card-handling apparatus, and improved cartridge includingin combination: a pair of parallelly arranged spaced-apart sidewallmembers; a front wall member joined intermediate said sidewall members;and endwall member generally parallel to said front wall member andjoined intermediate said sidewall members; a top member joined to saidsidewall members, said front wall member, and said end wall member forclosing the top of the cartridge; a plurality of selectively actuatablecard-retaining and selection pin means for supporting a plurality ofend-coded cards, said pin means mounted between said front wall memberand said end wall member; fluid nozzle means mounted in said sidewallmembers for directing fluid flow at the edges of the retained cards formaintaining the cards in spaced-apart positions; said end wall memberincluding a plurality of fluid-exhaust apertures in fluid communicationwith the interior of the cartridge, fluid source means for providingfluid flow through said apertures bearing on the face of the end cardnext adjacent said end wall member for holding said end card out ofcontact with said end wall member at all times and at a distancesufficient to enable another card to be inserted between said end wallmember and said next adjacent end card, and with a spacing beingmaintained between said other card and said end wall member and alsobetween said other card and said end card, and fluid conduit means forcoupling to a source of pressurized fluid from the card-handlingapparatus, said fluid conduit means in fluid communication with saidplurality of fluid-exhaust apertures.

7. The cartridge as in claim 6 wherein said fluid conduit means includesfluid input means downwardly extending in said end wall member andopening at the bottom of the sidewall members for fluid communicationwith fluid supply ports in the card-handling apparatus, and a pluralityof transverse channels extending upwardly along said end wall member,respective ones of said plurality of fluid-exhaust apertures located inassociated ones of said channels.

8. The cartridge as in claim 7 and further including a predeterminednumber of dummy cards retained in a side-byside relationship adjacentsaid front wall member, said dummy cards normally being unselectable andarranged for spacing selectable ones of the cards outwardly from saidfront wall member, thereby rending said selectable cards readilyseparatable by said fluid nozzle means.

9. The cartridge as in claim 7 wherein said plurality of fluid exhaustapertures are arranged in a coordinate array extending oversubstantially all of the surface of said face of said end card forproviding substantially uniform loading on said card.

it The cartridge as in claim 9 wherein said end wall member is on thecard-retum area for returning cards, said fluid exhausted through saidplurality of fluid-exhaust apertures forming a fluid bearing for keepingsaid returning cards out of contact with said end wall member.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,584,742 Dated June 1 1971 L R E. G 1 h Inventor(s) e 0y er ac It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, line 8, after "exhausted" insert through said plurality offluid-exhaust apertures Column 8, line 27, "on" should read in Signedand sealed this 23rd day of May 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents FORM 0-1050 (ID-59) USCOMM'DC 503754259 u.s. GOVERNMENYrnmrmu ornc: nu 0-355-3!

1. For use in a card cartridge having a plurality of cardretaining pinsfor cooperating with a plurality of end-coded cards arranged in aside-by-side relationship in the cartridge, and having fluid nozzlesarranged at the sides of the cartridge for directing fluid flow at theend of the cards for maintaining the cards in a separated condition, andhaving a pair of sidewall members, a front wall member, and an end wallmember, card profile compensation apparatus comprising: said end wallmember having a plurality of fluid-exhaust apertures in fluidcommunication with the interior of the cartridge, fluid source means forproviding fluid flow through said apertures bearing on the face of theend card next adjacent said end wall member for holding said end cardout of contact with said end wall member at all times and at a distancesufficient to enable another card to be inserted between said end wallmember and said end card, and with a spacing being maintained betweensaid other card and said end wall member and also between said othercard and said end card; and fluid conduit means for coupling to a sourceof pressurized fluid, said fluid conduit means being in fluidcommunication with said plurality of fluid-exhaust apertures.
 2. Cardprofile compensation apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said fluid conduitmeans includes fluid input means downwardly extending in said end wallmember and opening at the bottom of said sidewall member for fluidcommunication with fluid supply ports in the associated card-handlingapparatus, and a plurality of transverse channels extending upwardlyalong said end wall member, respective ones of said plurality of exhaustports located in associated ones of said channels.
 3. Card profilecompensation apparatus as in claim 2 and further including apredetermined number of dummy cards retained in side-by-siderelationship adjacent said front wall member, said dummy cards normallybeing unselectable and arranged for spacing selectable ones of saidcards outwardly from said front wall member, thereby rendering theselectable cards readily separatable by the fluid nozzles.
 4. Cardprofile compensation apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said plurality offluid-exhaust apertures are arranged in a coordinate array extendingover substantially all of the surface of said face of said end card forproviding substantially uniform loading on said card.
 5. Card profilecompensation apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said end wall member is inthe card-return area for returning cards, said fluid exhausted forming afluid bearing for keeping said returning cards out of contact with endwall member.
 6. For use in card-handling apparatus, and improvedcartridge including in combination: a pair of parallelly arrangedspaced-apart sidewall members; a front wall member joined intermediatesaid sidewall members; and endwall member generally parallel to saidfront wall member and joined intermediate said sidewall members; a topmember joined to said sidewall members, said front wall member, and saidend wall member for closing the top of the cartridge; a plurality ofselectively actuatable card-retaining and selection pin means forsupporting a plurality of end-coded cards, said pin means mountedbetween said front wall member and said end wall member; fluiD nozzlemeans mounted in said sidewall members for directing fluid flow at theedges of the retained cards for maintaining the cards in spaced-apartpositions; said endwall member including a plurality of fluid-exhaustapertures in fluid communication with the interior of the cartridge,fluid source means for providing fluid flow through said aperturesbearing on the face of the end card next adjacent said end wall memberfor holding said end card out of contact with said end wall member atall times and at a distance sufficient to enable another card to beinserted between said end wall member and said next adjacent end card,and with a spacing being maintained between said other card and said endwall member and also between said other card and said end card, andfluid conduit means for coupling to a source of pressurized fluid fromthe card-handling apparatus, said fluid conduit means in fluidcommunication with said plurality of fluid-exhaust apertures.
 7. Thecartridge as in claim 6 wherein said fluid conduit means includes fluidinput means downwardly extending in said end wall member and opening atthe bottom of the sidewall members for fluid communication with fluidsupply ports in the card-handling apparatus, and a plurality oftransverse channels extending upwardly along said end wall member,respective ones of said plurality of fluid-exhaust apertures located inassociated ones of said channels.
 8. The cartridge as in claim 7 andfurther including a predetermined number of dummy cards retained in aside-by-side relationship adjacent said front wall member, said dummycards normally being unselectable and arranged for spacing selectableones of the cards outwardly from said front wall member, thereby rendingsaid selectable cards readily separatable by said fluid nozzle means. 9.The cartridge as in claim 7 wherein said plurality of fluid-exhaustapertures are arranged in a coordinate array extending oversubstantially all of the surface of said face of said end card forproviding substantially uniform loading on said card.
 10. The cartridgeas in claim 9 wherein said end wall member is on the card-return areafor returning cards, said fluid exhausted through said plurality offluid-exhaust apertures forming a fluid bearing for keeping saidreturning cards out of contact with said end wall member.